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Building Energy Efficiency and Sustainability
News Release from: Energy Efficiency Partnership for Homes | Subject: Glazing Sector report
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 14 November 2007
UK Glazing Sector report by EST and EEPH
Out of over 9 million windows replaced annually, 2 million are now second time replacements - just one of the findings of the UK Glazing Sector report.
The UK Glazing Sector report commissioned by the Energy Saving Trust and the Energy Efficiency Partnership for Homes uncovers how the drivers behind the window market are changing fast Despite first time replacement saturation, the window market shows encouraging signs of refocusing, with demand for higher performing energy efficient windows a key driver
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 13 Jun 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
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The total UK residential energy efficiency market including windows, central heating and building thermal insulation is forecast to increase by 10% between 2006 and 2009.
This increase is driven by construction sector growth, the Energy White Paper, and future changes in building regulations.
The independent report Trade Sector Profiles, Domestic Glazing Sector, was commissioned by the Energy Saving Trust (EST) and the Energy Efficiency Partnership for Homes (EEPH), and carried out by Purple Market Research in June.
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The report is a synthesis of previous EST research, economic statistics and the most recent industry data.
It's the latest in a suite of studies including brown goods, white goods, insulation, heating and lighting, available for download on the website.
The study is used to inform sector participants and others, for example Defra, who have an interest in understanding each market's structure and the business drivers.
The research covers market size and segmentation; distribution channels; economic and demographic trends; window energy loss and associated emissions; key drivers and developments.
Significant facts included within the report about homeowner buying behaviour include:.
* Nearly 70% of British people believe that energy efficiency is important when buying a home.
Almost half (45%) are willing to pay up to GBP10,000 more for a more environmentally friendly home.
* While only 21% consider improving the energy efficiency of their home before putting it on the market, 64% of buyers would rule out potential purchases that contained clapped out boilers, single glazed windows or insufficient insulation.
* Each year more and more households are seeking advice on how to reduce their energy use, cut their rising fuel bills or improve the environmental performance of their homes.
Key drivers according to the report: In 1976 fewer than 10% of existing homes had double glazing in one or more rooms.
In 2004 market penetration reached almost 83% with 43% of all homes having double glazing in 80% or more rooms.
However, legislation, WERs, ESR windows, Decent Homes, Energy Performance Certificates, the Code for Sustainable Homes, and the Market Transformation Programme are forecast to influence the take up of energy efficient windows and grow a sustainable, second time replacement market.
(For clarification of each of these initiatives and influencing groups, see the definitions below).
What is the Energy Efficiency Partnership for Homes?.
Comprising over 750 partners and 16 working groups (standing committees), the Partnership helps inform emerging government policies, regulations and initiatives to enable the delivery of the government's targets and goals for energy and carbon Saving, energy security and the eradication of fuel poverty.
The Partnership is an independent, voluntary organisation of supply chain players involved in the delivery of energy efficiency products and services throughout the UK to the household sector.
Representatives from four different central government departments participate in these groups.
The Partnership has been in existence since 1999.
The Secretariat is provided by the Energy Saving Trust and funding by Defra.
Conducting research and its dissemination are important aspects of the Partnership's work.
Close links are maintained with other government funded programmes, particularly those at the Energy Saving Trust and the Market Transformation Programme (MTP) at Defra.
Industry groups include the Brown Goods Strategy Group, Heating Strategy Group, Insulation Strategy Group and for the Glazing Strategy Group.
Professor John Chesshire, Chairman of the Energy Efficiency Partnership for Homes explains the aims: "Our roots are in removing barriers and creating opportunities to bring higher performance energy efficiency measures to market as efficiently and cost effectively as possible".
Ian Pearson, Minister for State (Climate Change and the Environment) comments on the Partnership: "While it is important that we as government create the right regulatory framework, delivery of our policies is underpinned by the activities of a wide range of stakeholders who are committed to reducing carbon emissions and contributing to the eradication of fuel poverty".
"Herein lies the strength of the Partnership - as a forum that generates a productive interaction between all sectors that address these challenges".
"In the past year the Partnership has made a strong contribution, for example to our development of proposals for the Carbon Emission Reduction Target".
"As we drive forward the agenda set out in the Energy White Paper, I hope that the Partnership will continue to play a significant part".
Political and legal background - the timeline.
Due to agreements and commitments arising from the Kyoto Protocol, government bodies at a European, national and local level have set targets to reduce CO2 emissions at an industrial and domestic level.
Domestic energy usage and the energy efficiency of dwellings are subject to a number of initiatives from the European Union (through various directives such as the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, Eco-Design of Energy-Using Products Directive and the Boiler Efficiency Directive).
The UK and other EU member states have introduced legislation and other initiatives in response to these directives.
The UK government's Energy White Paper was published in 2003 and sets out the long term strategic vision for energy policy.
The focus is on energy efficiency as the most cost effective way to meet the UK's target for a 60% reduction in carbon emissions by 2050 with significant progress by 2020.
The immediate target is to reduce carbon emissions by over 12m tonnes per year by 2010.
In March 2007 the draft Climate Change Bill set a series of five-yearly carbon budgets in the period 2008 to 2050.
There are 3 key ways in which Government is orchestrating hitting these deadlines: 1) Building Regulations.
* Part L (England and Wales) 2006.
- Example: Since April 2005 virtually all gas boilers installed in dwellings in England and Wales must be A or B rated condensing boilers.
* Revisions to Part J (Scotland) 2004.
* Revisions to Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 Part F.
2) Government policies and initiatives that influence the building fabric and domestic energy efficiency.
These include:.
Energy Efficiency Commitment (EEC): Existing flagship instrument to improve energy efficiency in the domestic sector.
The EEC imposes a statutory obligation on the majority of energy suppliers to promote energy efficiency measures directed at householders.
From 2008 the Energy Efficiency Commitment will be known as the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) to reflect the addition of carbon reduction measures beyond energy efficiency, such as microgeneration.
Decent Homes: Government aims to make all council and housing association dwellings decent by 2010 i.e.warm, weatherproof and with reasonably modern facilities.
Not specifically designed to improve energy efficiency but includes a thermal comfort criterion so does impact on energy performance.
Warm Front (England and Wales) Warm Front provide a package of insulation and heating improvements up to the value of £2,700 (or £4,000 where oil central heating is recommended).
It is a government funded scheme available to householders who are in receipt of certain income related and disability benefits and who own their own home or rent from a private landlord.
Warm Deal (Scotland) a similar package of insulation measures worth up to £500 Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs): Will be required on sale or rent of buildings to give potential tenants or owners information on the current performance of the buildings with recommendations for improvements.
Code for Sustainable Homes: A voluntary code for housing developers in England and Wales stipulating energy and water efficiency requirements and ranking dwellings accordingly.
Market Transformation Programme (MTP): Funded by Defra, MTP supports the development and implementation of government policies on sustainable products.
MTP also facilitates the delivery of effective Europe-wide standards for energy labelling, mandatory energy efficiency requirements and voluntary industry agreements.
Low Carbon Buildings Programme (LCBP) The government's key tool for the delivery of the Microgeneration Strategy launched in April 2006 and providing grants for the installation of microgeneration technology (definition: stand-alone, small-scale generation of low carbon heating or electricity typically using technologies such as solar power, small wind turbines, biomass, heat pumps etc.).
HM Treasury is also a key government body in terms of the provision of funding or the introduction of legislation.
For example: Reduced VAT: Since 1998 the government has offered a reduced rate of VAT (5%) for most microgeneration technologies, and energy saving materials to encourage investment in domestic energy efficiency.
Tax relief for double glazing: In April 2001 a concession allowing landlords to offset general refurbishments of their properties against tax was abolished, allowing them to claim for repairs only.
Under the rules, double glazing was initially classified as a home improvement / refurbishment, and so didn't qualify for tax relief.
A tax case forced the Inland Revenue to change its mind, with the result that since then, double glazing has qualified for tax relief.
3) Industry Initiatives.
Window Energy Ratings (WER): Launched in 2004 to provide an accessible, robust structure for measuring product improvements as well as promoting energy efficiency to consumers.
WERs have grown in recognition and credibility and were included in the revisions to Part L1 of the Building Regulations in 2006.
Energy Saving Recommended (ESR): Launched in 2005, these are on Defra's list of eligible measures for the Energy Efficiency Commitment (EEC) encouraging suppliers to promote ESR windows and enabling consumers to access discounts and favourable deals.
ESR windows achieve at least a Band C rating on the WER scale (as opposed to a minimum under Building Regulations of Band E.
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